The ATM Site is the former location of a tissue paper mill, which, prior to 2001 was operated by American Tissue Mills of Maine. In 2001, American Tissue Mills of Maine, declared chapter 11 bankruptcy, and ceased operation of the mill. The mill was acquired by Augusta Tissue LLC in March 2003. Neither American Tissue Mills of Maine nor Augusta Tissue LLC has resumed operation of the mill.
There are several storage tanks located at the wastewater treatment plant, which contain bulk quantities of chemicals used in the treatment of wastewater. Five of these tanks are located outside the wastewater treatment building, and include acid (phosphoric acid) and caustics (sodium hypochlorite and ammonium hydroxide).
There are numerous tanks located throughout the facility which contain chemical products used in the tissue manufacturing process. Also, according to one of Augusta Tissue’s employees a series of large digesters had been converted to storage tanks, and contain chemicals. There are approximately 100 (55) gallon drums, 50 (230) gallon totes, hundreds of pails and bagged product, a number of bulk tanks in various locations throughout the facility (along with charged lines to and from some of the vessels); transformers which may contain PCB contaminated dielectric fluid, batteries and radiation sources.
